When I Went down to the Butchers

Όταν πήγα κυρά μου στο χασάπη

00:00

Lyrics

When I went down, mistress mine,
to the butcher’s to buy meat,
he gave me, mistress mine,
a bone and a donkey head to eat.

Five full days I boiled them
till on the seventh they were done,
when a friend appeared then–
my doggy neighbour at a run.
And he jumped up high and grabbed it
that huge bone from the pot,
and I snatched up a big stick
and chased him round a lot.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Όταν πήγα κυρά μου στο χασάπη

Όταν πήγα, κυρά μου, στο χασάπη,
όταν πήγα, κυρά μου, στο χασάπη,
όταν πήγα στο χασάπη ν’ αγοράσω κρεατάκι.

Και μου δίνει μια κοκκάλα
μια γαϊδουρινή κεφάλα.
Πέντε μέρες τηνε βράζω
στις εφτά την κατεβάζω.
Και μου ήρθε ένας φίλος
της γειτόνισσας ο σκύλος.
Και αρπάζει την κοκκάλα
από μέσ’ απ’ την τσουκάλα.
Και αρπάζω ένα ξύλο
και τον φέρνω γύρω γύρω.

Region: Thrace
Area: Evros, Kyani
Category: Lampoon
Rhythm: 2 beats
Dance: Hasapikos (fast)
Duration: 02:06

Recording information

Studio recording, 2005.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Athens sung by Theodoros and Peristera Keke who originate from Kyani, Didymoteicho, Evros, in 1990.

Credits

Dimitra Stenou

Singers

Group of children from the 9th Primary School of Nea Smyrni

Choir

Thodoris Georgopoulos

Flute

Kostas Philippidis

Lute

Vangelis Karipis

Goblet drum

Theodoros Kekes

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children

See also

  • SongThraceCarnival Song, Lampoon

Three Beardless Gents

  • Ήρθαν τρεις σπανοί ⬥ Three beardless gents down from the City, five hairs between them, what a pity. Then bré bré bré a fourth sailed in, from Tinos, five lonely hairs upon his chin. When bré bré bré when the baldies saw him they rushed out in welcome, looking trim. [...]
  • SongPanhellenicCarnival Song, Lampoon

When Everything Was Oh so Dear

  • Στης ακρίβειας τον καιρό ⬥ Live recording from the concert Carnival Songs With Domna Samiou held at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, on March 4, 2003. As a type, the bad woman (lazy, greedy, a drunkard, sexually insatiable, and adulteress) was an inexhaustible source of subject matter for Carnival songs.
  • SongThraceCarnival Song, Lampoon

Three Beardless Gents

  • Ήρθαν τρεις σπανοί απ’ την Πόλη ⬥ Three beardless gents down from the City, five hairs between them, what a pity. Then bré bré bré a fourth sailed in, from Tinos, five lonely hairs upon his chin. When bré bré bré when the baldies saw him they rushed out in welcome, looking [...]
  • SongPanhellenicCarnival Song

An Old Woman, an Old Gran

  • Μια γριά μπαμπόγρια ⬥ Live recording from the concert Carnival Songs with Domna Samiou held at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, on March 4, 2003.
  • SongPeloponneseCarnival Song, Children's Song, Lampoon

The Crab’s to Wed

  • Παντρεύουνε τον κάβουρα ⬥ Live recording from the concert Carnival Songs with Domna Samiou held at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, on March 4, 2003. Domna Samiou taped the song, sung by Kostas Marinis, 1960.